Politics and the Middle East

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: to be confirmed
• Assessment: a 1000-word seminar report (25%) and 3000-word examination (75%)

In this module we introduce you to the contemporary political evolution of the Middle East, with a particular focus on inter-state relations, at both a regional and international level.

You will develop a broad understanding of how the contemporary Middle East has evolved since 1918 and be able to identify and examine the key issues dominating politics in the region, including great powers’ relations with the region and its peoples. The module enables you to put the politics of the Middle East in the broader perspective of comparative political science and also within the wider comparative perspective of the developing world, highlighting similarities and differences.

By the end of the module, you should have:

• knowledge of the evolution of Middle Eastern polities and societies, as well as external powers’ interactions with them
• detailed knowledge of key concepts and texts used in the analysis of the region
• relevant historical and contextual knowledge, including on the international relations of the region.